In the beginning, he was ranked alongside An Shigeng as a spoiled brat.

The Empire's plan was already attracting attention, but the Zhang family even sent out invitations, allowing them to participate.

Although I don't understand the Zhang family's purpose, it's better to believe it's true than not.

If you're even a step too late, someone else might beat you to it.

When the empire learned of Zhang Xiaoshan's actions, even Emperor Ying Zheng was puzzled by Zhang's purpose.

You should know that Zhang Xiaoshan didn't inform him about this step.

Fortunately, these people were only traveling on the Zhang family's escort fleet, not on the Mirage. Even if a few people could travel on the Mirage, the Dragon Emperor was not stingy.

Meanwhile, those forces that did not receive an invitation started making a fuss.

Others have it, but they don't? We look down on them.

Such as powerful, hidden clans, top-tier royal families, and various schools of thought including the Mohists, the School of Names, and the Miscellaneous School...

However, they didn't really cause trouble for the Zhang family. With just an invitation to go to sea, they weren't about to fight to the death with the Zhang family.

Moreover, the families chosen by the Zhang family were prominent families from the four major schools and the four major regions.

In comparison, no single powerful force is enough to shake these forces. Even the Farmers' Clan, which doesn't seem to be part of the alliance, boasts 100,000 disciples and is not a small force like the Beggars' Clan.

Chapter 708 The Yin-Yang School's Night Banquet at the Mirage Tower

Chapter 708

The Yin-Yang School has arrived!

On the tenth day after the mirage approached Sanghai City, the people from the Empire and the Yin-Yang School finally arrived at Sanghai City.

Thirty thousand elite armored guards of the empire escorted the Yin-Yang School's guardian deity, the elder Yun Zhongjun, and three thousand years of virgin boys and girls.

Moreover, Zhangjia Wharf had its main road cleared, and both sides were piled high with grain, silk, tea...

During this period, the Zhang family has been continuously supplying materials, preparing for a three-year period of 50,000 people.

As for why it's not five years? Ten years?

The Zhang family also has members in the New World, and they have already successfully reclaimed the land.

With eight escort ships, they can travel to one end of the New World at any time to obtain food, so there is no need to prepare five or ten years' worth of food.

They could even build a port at the southernmost tip of the New World to serve as a base.

Moreover, the marine environment is not suitable for preserving food for long periods of time.

"Commander Zhao, you may lower the ladder now!"

Above the mirage, Xinghun looked at Zhao Longxiang to one side.

Although this place is mostly filled with imperial armor, the true high-ranking officials are only him and Zhao Longxiang.

And the Mysterious Woman? She can be described as a mythical figure high above.

Even disregarding the fact that she is two thousand years old, Xinghun would not dare to be presumptuous in front of her, given that she is only at the level of a Grandmaster Xuan Nu.

Moreover, the Zhang family doesn't just have Zhao Longxiang; there's also a mysterious and unpredictable tomb raider named Faqiu Tianguan.

"Place the ladder!"

As the mirage dragon's mouth opened, a three-zhang-wide passage, resembling a ladder to heaven, slowly descended from within.

Upon finally arriving at the dock platform, looking at the suspended stairs, the three thousand boys and girls who had just arrived at the dock naturally did not stop, but went up the stairs.

The carriage that originally carried the Moon Goddess and the Lord of the Clouds was transformed into a palanquin carried by eight people, with the Yin-Yang School expert 620 carrying it as they slowly ascended.

As for the guards behind, half of them will ascend the mirage, but not now.

"Star Soul Protector, Commander Zhao!"

On the mirage, the Moon Goddess and the Cloud Lord greeted Xinghun and Zhao Longxiang.

As the commander of the Zhang family's guards, Zhao Longxiang commands what is arguably the strongest force on the Mirage Tower.

It should be known that among the Imperial Guards, only centurions and chiliarchs possess the strength to achieve minor mastery of external physical training, and only a few Imperial Guards commanders have achieved major mastery.

The Zhang family is different; they have at least ten bodyguards at the peak or the highest level of the Body Tempering Realm, and hundreds of bodyguards at the lower level of the Body Tempering Realm.

Moreover, the Zhang family has a Grandmaster, so quality is more important than quantity.

"Zhang family's Zhao Longxiang greets the Moon Goddess Protector and Elder Yunzhongjun."

Her Highness the Mysterious Lady has already prepared a banquet at the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion to welcome you all. Please!

"please!"

When the Moon Goddess, Star Soul, and Cloud Lord arrived at the Heavenly Mystery Tower behind it.

Before your eyes is a magnificent hall, or you could call it a grand hall. At the head of the table is a woman dressed in white with a cool and aloof demeanor, and her pair of bright blue starry eyes have a captivating power.

Below the head of the table were Zhao Gao, Fu Nian, Li Si, Xiao Meng, Duke of Chu Nan, and others who had already arrived...

"The Yin-Yang School's Moon Goddess (Star Soul, Lord of the Clouds) greets Your Highness, Mysterious Maiden!"

As the core of the Yin-Yang School, they were well aware of the special status of this Mysterious Woman, who had been resurrected from the dead two thousand years ago and whose strength was unfathomable.

Even Ying Zheng, the owner of the Mirage Tower, did not hesitate at all.

They even bestowed many treasures upon the travelers, all of which were included in the supplies they brought with them.

"Please rise and take your seats, everyone!"

"Thank you, Your Excellency!"

The Moon Goddess and the others looked at the four empty tables and chairs and sat down directly according to their status and position.

At this moment, Fu Nian and the others also looked at the Moon Goddess. This time, it seemed like they were welcoming the Moon Goddess back, but they knew that the Zhang family had no need for this and there must be other things going on.

"Serve!"

Zhao Longxiang looked at the Zhang family members at the door and made a hand gesture.

Immediately afterwards, ten food carts slowly arrived, led by Chef Paoding of Guanhailou Restaurant.

At this moment, the food cart opened, revealing food buried in slush.

The first dish was three enormous lobsters, each weighing a full ten pounds. Everyone watched as the butcher expertly dismembered, shelled, and butchered them...

Soon, the three large lobsters had been transformed into plates of crystal-clear, jelly-like food.

Then each person gets a serving; although it's not much, there's more than one dish.

Tuna sashimi, king crab, salmon... were served one after another.

Each serving was small, but in total, there were more than thirty kinds of top-quality seafood, which shocked even the three people in Sanghai City, including Fu Nian.

This is not even in the same league as the seafood they usually eat.

"Everyone, please!"

Xuan Nu drank red wine, which is good for the complexion and has a flavor that is much more suitable for women than white wine.

Moreover, Zhang Xiaoshan obtained wine by trading top-quality civet coffee—one pound of coffee for one barrel of top-quality red wine—with Western nobles who were not of Persian royal lineage.

"I think many of you may have some questions about why I am hosting this banquet."

"This grand feast was not my idea, but rather someone from the Zhang family wanted to explain to everyone why they suddenly invited the eight major powers to the New World, and why so many powers were invited."

The Mystic Maiden got straight to the point, stating her purpose directly.

She wasn't good at playing mind games with these forces; all she needed to do was convey Zhang Xiaoshan's message.

The goddess nodded inside, and then, to everyone's astonishment, a beam of light shone from inside, illuminating the white jade wall that had been prepared beforehand.

As the lights in the hall suddenly went out, only that one beam of light became the source of light in the darkness.

It was a painting, a colorful one at that. Anyone with a little experience could recognize it as a nautical chart, and a mysterious one at that.

"The young master previously had two choices with the Empire:"

One option is to take the sea route that Zhang Jia used to take, which is the safest route. Then, follow the coast of the New World southward to the land at the end of the world.

　(bjca) Secondly, they could take the route to Southeast Asia, which the Zhang family had explored before.

After passing through Luzon, to the south lies a new continent roughly equivalent to Kyushu (Nine Provinces). From there, the journey will take six months to a year to reach our destination.

"Another new continent?"

Everyone looked at Zhao Longxiang, who was explaining, in disbelief.

The two new paths mentioned by the Zhang family are completely different, even for Zhao Gao and the Yin-Yang School.

I never expected the Zhang family to be hiding such information.

"Indeed, this is also an undeveloped new continent with a warm climate year-round. The Zhang family has planted a large amount of rice, spices, and medicinal herbs here. Even 30% of the Zhang family's top-grade redwood comes from here, and it is all the highest grade redwood!"

"Your Excellency, does Young Master Zhang mean that he wants to jointly develop the area, which is why he invited us there?"

"Not bad!"

The Mystic Maiden nodded her head, her expression cold as she said:

He said that the land of Kyushu was too chaotic. There were clearly more lands overseas, so why did they have to fight each other with the land of Kyushu? The internal strife was extremely serious.

The Zhang family's purpose in building the mirage with the imperial supervision was never to find the so-called elixir of immortality.

Of course, it doesn't conflict with the empire's search for the elixir of immortality.

Moreover, many indigenous people on these continents believe in the law of the jungle and need to be educated.

This is why, in addition to the alliance of aristocratic families in the four major regions, the young master also invited the four prominent schools of thought—to promote education and moral guidance.

Upon hearing this, everyone fell into deep thought.

This seems like a good thing, but it's also a dangerous choice.

To educate indigenous people who don't speak your language or have a different writing system, especially those who believe in the law of the jungle, and who might even be cannibals...

Therefore, this is not a good job, but similarly, they believe that Zhang Xiaoshan would never give them the opportunity to preach if they did not put in the effort.

The Zhang family has always been known for its clear distinction between rewards and punishments.

Moreover, Zhang Xiaoshan has already been quite merciful.

If Westerners were to discover this place a hundred years from now, they would not be met with enlightenment, but with slaughter.

"Does Young Master Zhang have any other requests?"

"No, as long as you don't cause trouble for the Zhang family."

Xuan Nu smiled dismissively. As for the requirements?

Zhang Xiaoshan made an outrageous demand, and they had to make the corresponding payment. Therefore, a favor was far more important than any other request!

Besides, these people dared not provoke the Zhang family.

"In addition, you can help pass on the contents of this banquet."

The Zhang family's purpose this time is to alleviate the conflicts between the various forces as much as possible. Moreover, the fact that you all developed these barren lands can be considered as expanding the territory of the Nine Provinces and the Empire.

As fellow Han Chinese, at least in the future when trade takes place, this will avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.

"Young master is wise!"

Although Zhang Xiaoshan was not present, they had to admit that his magnanimity was admirable, though his methods were somewhat cruel.

They readily exterminate entire families, giving no one a chance to forgive their sins.

However, since the Zhang family has already taken action, it's generally a fight to the death, and there's no need for them to forgive.

···

As dawn breaks and the sun rises in the east!

The group on the mirage finally came ashore. This scene made the Mo family, Quicksand, Bad Guys, and others who had been guarding the place all night realize that things might not be so simple.

Otherwise, the arrival of the Yin-Yang School and their sudden invitation to everyone from the mirage would surely not be a simple welcoming banquet.

Three days later, the contents of the mirage spread rapidly throughout the Nine Provinces through the efforts of the people.

No one ever imagined that the world was so big!

Moreover, the Zhang family was actually willing to provide a map of the new continent and develop it together with them.

This made them marvel at Zhang Xiaoshan's magnanimity.